Some Debuts Don’t Go As Planned

GAME RECAP: Jays Jack Phils 11-3 

Josh Donaldson hit a grand slam and Ezequiel Carrera and Edwin Encarnacion added a pair of two-run shots as the Blue Jays scored early and often against rookie Zach Eflin in an 11-3 victory over the Phillies on Tuesday afternoon at Rogers Centre. Donaldson went 3-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored. It was his second five-RBI game of the season and the fourth of his career as the reigning American League MVP Award winner also extended his on-base streak to 19 consecutive games. "We watched a little bit of film on him," Donaldson said of Eflin. "I was paying very close attention to Jose [Bautista's] at-bat, and it looked like he wanted to throw his heater early on. In my first at-bat, he threw me a fastball that I could hit, and I was able to hit it pretty well to right field. That kind of started me on the right track. I was able to get some pitches to hit, and I was able to take advantage of it." Kevin Pillar also enjoyed a three-hit game with a homer and a pair of runs scored. Carrera went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. The offensive outburst came less than 24 hours after Toronto was shut out by Philadelphia, but the club has now scored at least 10 runs in three of its past four games. Eflin was making his Major League debut, but it did not go as planned. He allowed nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits and three walks while striking out two. Eflin became the first rookie Phillies pitcher to allow eight earned runs or more in a start since Gavin Floyd on April 19, 2005. "You've got to forget about it," Eflin said about his first Major League start. "Obviously, I'll remember it for the rest of my life, but from a pitching standpoint, I've got to bounce back. I've got to throw quality strikes and get ahead of the hitters." Right-hander Marcus Stroman picked up the victory for Toronto. He entered Tuesday having allowed 25 runs over his previous 29 2/3 innings, but Stroman was much better in this one. Stroman scattered six hits and one walk with six strikeouts over seven strong innings. The one big blow was a solo home run by Cesar Hernandez in the seventh. "I felt a lot better out there," Stroman said. "I think the work that we've been putting in between the last few starts is starting to take shape. Not exactly where I want to be, but definitely made strides and looking forward to the next one."

PHILS PHACTS:

• Playing in his first game against the Blue Jays since being traded from Toronto to Philadelphia for cash considerations on June 1, Jimmy Paredes finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Paredes brought home the Phillies' first run of the afternoon with a double down the left-field line in the sixth inning, before notching a single and scoring on Andres Blanco's sacrifice fly in the eighth. The 27-year-old switch-hitter entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning for center fielder Odubel Herrera. Paredes played right, with Peter Bourjos moving to center. "I feel good being back in Canada," Paredes said. "We had a bad game, but we'll see what we can do tomorrow. What I've learned in the National League is that you have to be ready every inning with all the double switches. You never know what's going to happen, and I try to make the most of my opportunities."
• The eight earned runs allowed by Eflin was the highest total given up by a Philadelphia starter since Jerome Williams surrendered eight on Aug. 20, 2015.
• Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco missed his second straight game on Tuesday with a right knee sprain he sustained Sunday, and he is considered day to day. If Franco is unable to go Wednesday, Andres Blanco could make his third consecutive start at the hot corner.
• After spending the past two games at designated hitter, Jose Bautista could make his return to right field on Wednesday. Bautista exited Thursday's game against the Orioles with right thigh tightness, and he missed three consecutive contests before returning to the lineup on Monday.
• Edwin Encarnacion is expected to get the start at first base in Philadelphia, with Justin Smoak coming off the bench for the Blue Jays. Encarnacion has seen a majority of his at-bats as the DH, but he started at first base on Tuesday.

NEXT GAME:

After playing a pair of games in Toronto, the Blue Jays and Phillies shift over to Citizens Bank Park for two games beginning on Wednesday. Marco Estrada (4-2, 2.57 ERA) gets the ball for Toronto having allowed five hits or fewer in nine consecutive starts. Estrada's .168 batting average against is the lowest mark among American League starters, and the 32-year-old has limited the opposition to two runs or fewer in seven of his 12 starts this season. In his last outing against the Orioles, Estrada went six innings and allowed three earned runs. The right-handed finesse pitcher has won his past three decisions, and he has not been defeated since a 4-0 loss to the White Sox on April 27. The Phillies will counter with Jeremy Hellickson (4-4, 4.34 ERA), who will look to rebound after one of his worst starts of the season. The 29-year-old right-hander allowed nine hits and seven earned runs -- including three home runs -- over six innings in a loss to the Nationals on Friday. Prior to his start against Washington, Hellickson had allowed three runs or fewer in six consecutive outings. Hellickson made 15 starts against Toronto from 2010-14 during his time with the Rays, going 5-4 with a 3.45 ERA. However, he is 1-10 with a 6.69 ERA in 15 Interleague starts.

PHILS PHACTS:

Dreadful Debut – Zach Eflin experienced both the highs and lows of life in the Major Leagues during his debut on Tuesday. Eflin was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start in place of the injured Vince Velasquez, and he struck out two of the first three batters he faced -- Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion -- on hard sliders. After that, however, things took a turn for the worst for Eflin, the Phillies' No. 13 prospect. The 22-year-old right-hander lasted just 2 2/3 innings, giving up nine runs (eight earned) in an 11-3 loss to the Blue Jays. Three of the nine hits Eflin allowed were home runs, and he also walked three. He became the first Phillies rookie to allow eight earned runs in a game since Gavin Floyd on April 19, 2005. "This was his Major League debut, and I suppose he was a little nervous," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "He just made a lot of bad pitches. He normally locates a lot better than he did. He was just up in the zone with all his pitches and got hit. Sorry to see his debut turn out that way, but this is a good lineup, and he can't make mistakes to them." The big blow from Toronto came in a six-run third inning, when reigning American League MVP Award winner Josh Donaldson took Eflin into the second deck with a grand slam for a 9-0 Blue Jays lead. Known for his ability to keep the ball down and command his fastball, Eflin didn't display those tendencies in Toronto. "You've got to forget about it," Eflin said. "Obviously, I'll remember it for the rest of my life, but from a pitching standpoint, I've got to bounce back. I've got to throw quality strikes and get ahead of the hitters." "You just got to keep him calm, don't let him get to himself, don't let him get down about himself," added catcher Cameron Rupp. "Just tell him, 'Come on, you can do it, you got one pitch left, you got two outs, you're one pitch away.' And then it was tough for him not to get it. He battled, he never gave in to those hitters, and that's a good lineup, too. You can't make mistakes to that lineup and those guys, and they got him when he did." Acquired from the Dodgers as part of the Jimmy Rollins deal in 2014, Eflin's Major League debut came in front of a packed house at Rogers Centre. In the first row behind the Phillies' dugout were Eflin's father, grandparents, two sisters, girlfriend and her brother. "It was very special," Eflin said about having his family on hand. "Especially because they had their passports and everything ready for whenever and whatever happened, so it was awesome to have them here." While the Phillies are unsure of what the season holds for Eflin as far as a permanent spot in their rotation, they do expect him to get another outing. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound right-hander knows he'll have to make some tweaks in order to have a better performance his next time out. "Really make sure I limit my pitches up in the zone," Eflin said. "I need to make sure that I focus on every pitch and work down in the zone and really don't give them anything to hit, and go from there."

Today In Phils History – It was on this day in 1945 that Ben Chapman was acquired from the Dodgers… his history with that team did not stop there. 4 years later, Eddie Waitkus is shot in a Chicago hotel by 19-year old Ruth Steihagen. 3 years later, Granny Hamner demonstrated why it is always important to cover home plate when he scored on a foul pop up which was fielded by the Pittsburgh catcher. In 1960, the Phillies said goodbye to Wally Post and Sparky Anderson but also welcomed Tony Gonzalez to the team. 2 year later, the Phillies made a smart acquisition (which they would later negate) when they signed minor-league free agent Ferguson Jenkins. Long time Phillies manager Gene Mauch was fired on this day in 1968 and replaced by Bob Skinner. In 2001, the Phillies honored 2 players from 2 very different eras when Gary Maddox and Gavvy Cravath were inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Hall of Fame. It is also the birthday of Bab Dahlgren (1912) and Lance Parrish who turns 60 today.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 30-35 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. The Phillies finished the spring exceeding most expectations compiling a record of 15-11-3 (18-11-3 if you include the exhibition games against Reading and the University of Tampa). All time, the Phillies are 42-57-0 on this day. I expect the Phillies to finish in the bottom half of the division but not last in the NL East by finishing the season with a 77-85 record. Let the rebuild begin!

Phillies Can’t Keep Up With Upgraded Blue Jays

GAME RECAP: Jays Jack Phils 8-5

The Blue Jays need to beat teams like the Phillies if they expect to win their first American League East title since 1993. They did just that Tuesday night in an 8-5 victory at Citizens Bank Park to stay one back of the Yankees, who beat the Twins, 8-4. Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson led the way, crushing a solo home run into the second deck in left field in the first inning and hitting a three-run shot to left-center field in the sixth to give the Blue Jays a two-run lead. His first homer was projected to travel 439 feet by Statcast™, with an exit velocity of 111.8 mph. "He's swinging at everything well, and he's giving good at-bats as well, which I think is a big deal," reliever Liam Hendriks said about Donaldson. "Swinging the bat well, coming out and not giving up 0-2 or anything like that. He keeps battling, and he's put a lot of good swings on some balls this year." Phillies right fielder Jeff Francoeur hit a solo homer in the second and Freddy Galvis tripled to score a run in the fourth, but the bullpen could not hold the lead as the Phillies have lost six of their past seven games. "There's a lot of guys in this lineup you don't want to have a hiccup against," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said about the Blue Jays' offense. "You make quality pitches you're going to get them out. If you don't, you're in trouble."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• The Phillies might have lost their best bat for the rest of the season, when they placed rookie third baseman Maikel Franco on the disabled list with a broken left wrist. But they scored five runs Tuesday, one more than they scored over the weekend in a three-game series against the Brewers. "I'm pleased with the offense," Mackanin said. "Unfortunately, our pitching is not where we want it to be at this point."
• Phillies rookie Aaron Nola allowed four hits, three runs, four walks and one homer, and he struck out five in five innings. He threw 94 pitches (53 strikes). It was the first time in 35 professional starts (29 in the Minors, six in the Majors) Nola walked four batters as he tried to be too perfect against a powerful lineup. He still left with a 5-3 lead, but Phillies relievers Elvis Araujo and Jeanmar Gomez allowed five runs in the sixth. "I should have just went straight at them and capitalized on it," Nola said.
• Phillies third baseman Cesar Hernandez made two errors, a fielding error in the first and a throwing error in the eighth. Third base is not his natural position, but with Chase Utley still manning second base, Hernandez is forced to play third. "It's not easy going from one side of the infield to the other," Mackanin said. "We're just kind of in the situation where we're forced to do it. But he also got a couple hits."
• "I wish we had him here. He's fun to watch hit." -- Mackanin, on Donaldson.
• The Phillies could be without arguably their best bat for the remainder of the season. The team announced Tuesday that rookie third baseman Maikel Franco has been placed on the disabled list with a broken left wrist. Cesar Hernandez and Andres Blanco are expected to share time at third in Franco's place.
• Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Chase Utley is unlikely to be traded before the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline, although that may change. Utley has full no-trade rights.

NEXT GAME:

The Blue Jays will try to keep pace with the Yankees in the American League East as they complete a short two-game series with the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night. Toronto, after winning 13 of its past 15 games, will go with lefty Mark Buehrle, who is 6-2 against the Phillies with a 3.50 ERA in nine starts. The Blue Jays hope Josh Donaldson remains on his recent tear -- including two home runs on Tuesday night -- against Phillies starter Adam Morgan. Donaldson has reached base in 23 of 26 games since July 21. Morgan beat Toronto, 3-2, on July 28, when he allowed two runs on five hits in six innings at Rogers Centre.

PHILS PHACTS:

Franco Lands On DL – Maikel Franco's wrist injury is much worse than originally thought. The Phillies placed him on the disabled list Tuesday with a broken left wrist, and it seems likely his promising rookie season has ended. "I don't think it's a future issue," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. "But we're going to be cautious with him. We have to be as cautious as we can. He's too important to us." Franco was hit on the wrist with a pitch by D-backs pitcher Jeremy Hellickson on Aug. 11 in Arizona. X-rays taken that night did not show the fracture, and the Phillies believed the injury to be nothing more than a bruise. But as Franco's condition did not improve in the following days, an MRI exam this week in Philadelphia showed what Amaro described as "a very small, non-displaced fracture of his ulnar styloid," which is a small bone on the outside of the wrist. Franco will be in a splint for the next two to three weeks. Amaro said Franco's recovery could be anywhere from 2-4 weeks, but the GM also acknowledged it could be longer. Combine the estimated recovery time with the fact there are slightly more than six weeks remaining in the season, and it seems the Phillies might simply have Franco focus on his health in the coming weeks and not rush toward a return. "It's a big blow," Amaro said. "He's having a heck of a year for us. He's been playing great, a pretty strong force in the middle of the lineup. You can't do anything about it. A guy got hit and you've got to deal with it." Franco had hit .277 (82-for-296) with 22 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 48 RBIs and an .830 OPS in 77 games since his promotion from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on May 15. If he had enough plate appearances to qualify, he would have the highest OPS among National League rookies. Cesar Hernandez and Andres Blanco are expected to handle the duties at third base the remainder of the season. Outfielder Aaron Altherr was recalled from Lehigh Valley to take Franco's spot on the roster. Altherr hit a combined .293 (127-for-433) with 32 doubles, five triples, 14 home runs, 67 RBIs and an .854 OPS in 111 games with Double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley. He can play all three outfield positions, so he should have no problem playing during the week. "He's going to get a chance to play," Amaro said. "It's time to find out a little bit more about Aaron."

Stepping Up – Life without Maikel Franco might not be easy for the Phillies. It showed over the weekend in Milwaukee, where the Phillies scored a combined four runs in three losses against the Brewers at Miller Park. Franco has not played since he got hit with a pitch on his left wrist Aug. 11, and he could miss the rest of the season after the Phillies revealed Tuesday the wrist is broken. "Well, there is no question we are going to miss his bat," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said before Tuesday night's 8-5 loss to the Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park. "It's going to be tough missing that right-handed bat especially in the lineup. But we're going to do everything we can to get through it and just keep battling. There's nothing we can do about it." Franco posted a team-high .830 OPS before the injury. "I feel bad," Franco said. "But it's part of the game. I hope I can come back soon. We'll see what's going to happen." Franco's absence leaves rookie Odubel Herrera (.744 OPS) in the No. 3 spot. But the Phillies showed some life against the Blue Jays. They knocked Blue Jays knuckleballer R.A. Dickey from the game in the fifth inning. He allowed five runs in four-plus innings, which snapped a Blue Jays-record 20 consecutive games with a starter allowing three or fewer earned runs. The last time it happened was July 25, when Drew Hutchison allowed five earned runs in four innings at Seattle. Phillies right fielder Jeff Francoeur crushed a solo home run to center field in the second inning. Francoeur signed with the Phillies as a Minor League free agent in November, and he has 11 home runs and a .786 OPS, which leads the team among players with 125 or more at-bats this season. Cesar Hernandez, Cody Asche and Freddy Galvis each knocked in runs as the Phillies took a 5-3 lead in the fifth, but the bullpen blew it in the sixth. "I hope our guys take notice that they look for the fastball, and if they're looking fastball and you make a mistake with something soft and it's out over the plate, they don't take it," Mackanin said about the Blue Jays' high-powered lineup. "They do damage. They're just a dangerous offensive team." Can the Phillies be potent enough without Franco? "I'd like to think so," Mackanin said. "I think we can score enough, but it all boils down to pitching."

Revere Returns – Ben Revere sat in the visitors' dugout at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday afternoon and admitted he felt a little out of place. After two and a half seasons with the Phillies, Revere was traded to the Blue Jays prior to the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline. Entering Tuesday night's 8-5 victory, Revere was batting .216 (11-for-51) in 15 games since joining Toronto, and while he misses his former home, he understands the opportunity he's been given. "It's been a rough little ride for a few weeks," said Revere, who batted seventh on Tuesday night against the Phillies. "It's a new league and I'm learning all of the pitchers, and I'm working on making an adjustment. "But it's been great. [The Blue Jays] have welcomed me in and I'm the everyday left fielder. This is all about having fun and contributing to a team fighting for a playoff spot." A postseason spot certainly wasn't in the immediate future of the Phillies (46-72), who own the worst record in baseball. Even after a strong start to the second half, Revere knows that Toronto (65-54) has risen quickly in the American League and entered Tuesday just a game behind the Yankees in the AL East. "It's a good fit," Revere said. "It's kind of like Philadelphia in that it's a big city and we're playing in front of sellout crowds. When I first got there, we had a one o'clock game on a Wednesday that was rocking. I just want to help this club win. "They are going through some changes, and sure I miss the guys and I wanted to help them get back [to the playoffs]. It didn't work out, and now I want to help this team."

Cooling Down – Chase Utley was in the leadoff spot for the Phillies on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park, and unless something changes, it sounds like he will be hitting atop the Phillies' lineup for the foreseeable future. "I don't think that Chase has that desire to leave, frankly," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Tuesday afternoon. "And the Phillies don't have the desire to move him out of here." But trade discussions can heat up quickly, especially with a change of heart or one phone call, so it would be foolish to say Utley absolutely will not be traded before the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline. But sources have told MLB.com that discussions have cooled since Friday, when the Angels and possibly other contenders thought they would strike a deal for Utley. Utley has complete no-trade rights, so if he does not want to leave, he has the right to veto any deal. But while Amaro publicly downplayed the Phillies' desire to move their iconic second baseman, they have been trying hard to trade him. In fact, they have received multiple offers for Utley, although Amaro would not acknowledge them. "That's something I'd really rather not discuss," Amaro said. Amaro said Utley has not told him that he wants to be traded. He even said it is likely Utley would not be traded. But Amaro said similar things in the past about Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon, who were both dealt in July. Of course, the big difference is Hamels and Papelbon wanted to be traded. Utley might be content simply playing out his contract with the Phillies. One factor for Utley is playing time. He wants to play regularly because he plans to play next season, and some teams might not be able to provide that. And now that Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco is on the disabled list, Utley might play even more than he has since returning from the DL on Aug. 7. But if Utley is not traded this month, he almost is certainly playing his final few weeks with the Phillies. Utley has a $2 million buyout on an $11 million club option, but while Amaro said it is a "possibility" they could pick up Utley's option, it would be very surprising if they did. The Phillies know it is time to move on from 2008. "The rebuild isn't over," Amaro said. "We still have a lot of work to do, but we're making some progress and we're continuing to look for ways to progress and move forward with younger players." So it could be seen as a lost opportunity for the Phillies' rebuilding efforts if they have to watch Utley leave at the end of the season with no compensation, as opposed to a prospect they might receive in a trade. "I don't think it's a lost opportunity, necessarily," Amaro said. "We have to assess a lot of different things about him being here. There are a lot of positives to still have Chase Utley in our uniform. Happy to have him continue to do what he does for the fans, for our team and for the young players who are watching him. He goes about his business exactly how we want our players to go about their business. So I don't think there's anything bad about having him here."

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies have returned to their lackluster ways and regained their grip on last place in the NL East with a record of 46-73. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this could still end up being the worst team in franchise history… at least that is something to hope for this year! All time, the Phillies are 53-47-2 on this day.